*EPF105 10/21/2002
Text: Community of Democracies Conference "Important Opportunity"
(Dobriansky addresses Wilson International Center) (1840)

Washington -- The upcoming Community of Democracies conference to be held in Seoul, South Korea November 10-12 is an "important opportunity to strengthen democracy," Paula J. Dobriansky, under secretary of state for global affairs, said October 18.

Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Dobriansky reaffirmed the U.S. belief in the principles affirming the importance of support for democracy and fundamental freedoms that were adopted at the first Community of Democracies conference in Warsaw two years ago, and the action plan that she envisaged being produced at the Seoul meeting.

She also discussed regional cooperation to promote democracy and cooperation between governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). She indicated that Secretary of State Colin Powell would lead the U.S. delegation to the conference.

Following is the text of Dobriansky����s remarks.

(begin text)

As we look toward next month����s meeting of the Community of Democracies, I think that it is useful to remember that the very concept of democracy is a community itself -- a convergence of disparate ideas from disparate sources. The modern concept of democracy is not the heritage of a single generation, nor is it the legacy of a single nation. Rather, it is a synthesis of ideas cultivated from different times and from different societies. Democracy is and always has been a combination of the best designs for responsive government, prosperous society, and free people. From ancient Greece, democracy received its foundations of direct government by the citizenry. From England, democracy inherited the parliamentary system of government. From France, democracy acquired its notions of individual rights and liberties. In other words, democracy has always benefited from the contributions of different ideas and diverse societies.

In that spirit, we are approaching next month����s meeting in Seoul, Korea, as another important opportunity to strengthen democracy by bringing together the world����s democratic nations and their diverse ideas for developing and expanding democracy to meet the needs of the 21st Century. The Community of Democracies presents an exceptional opportunity for building better democracies and promoting democratic development. It is an extraordinary forum in which nations can come together not because of factors like common borders or common histories, but rather because of common values and ideals and common commitments for the future. Indeed, it is a unique global initiative in that it brings together only democratic nations to identify ways to fortify and consolidate democratic institutions at home, regionally, and worldwide. Secretary Powell will lead the American delegation in Seoul, a fact which underscores our commitment to a Community of Democracies.

We will meet at a crucial moment in history, a time in which threats to freedom and democracy are numerous and ominous. In this global climate, it is then all the more essential that democratic nations join to demonstrate that democracy offers the best antidote to the popular discontent that sometimes breeds terrorism. It is all the more necessary to show that the movement toward democracy will not be impeded by either totalitarian states or rogue leaders. And so we must renew our commitment to the democratic values of political and economic freedom, respect for the rule of law, and respect for human dignity itself. The Seoul meeting of the Community of Democracies will provide us with that opportunity. What are our general hopes for Seoul and the specific mechanisms we look to employ to realize those hopes?

In Seoul, we will reaffirm the democratic principles laid down in the inaugural meeting at Warsaw 2 years ago:

-- that peace, development, human rights, and democracy are fundamentally linked;

-- that equality, freedom, and due process are the inalienable rights of all people;

-- that governments must be responsive to the will and to the needs of its citizens.

In Warsaw, governments pledged to support one another in pursuing democratic principles and in fortifying democratic institutions. But to better support nations in the democratization process, the Seoul meeting will also recognize the fact that nations will vary in their progress toward these ideals.

And so the design of the Seoul conference will take into consideration the stage of democratization of attendees by including nations both as participants and as observers. One- hundred eighteen nations have been invited as participants, and 21 nations as observers. This system acknowledges the progress that observer countries are making toward greater democracy and improved human rights while also giving them the opportunity to learn from the experiences of participant countries. We hope that this new approach will better serve observer countries by including them among the community of nations committed to these ideals and by providing a framework that will better support countries through their particular stages of democratic development.

Our great hope for the Community of Democracies is that it will be a cooperative effort that benefits from the contributions of all corners of the globe and all sectors of society as well. No matter how successful the ministerial meeting might be, there will always be limits to what governments alone can do. The most effective outcomes are those reached in partnership with civil society. Therefore, the Seoul Ministerial will be partnered with a parallel meeting of non-governmental organizations {NGOs) and civil society representatives who will explore ways to strengthen civil society around the world. Forging closer ties between governments and non-governmental groups is vital to our success. Full democracy must be buttressed by a strong civil society that will hold governments accountable to their citizens. The public-private partnerships that we expect will emerge from Seoul will provide another aspect of support for democracy worldwide by helping to guarantee that governments remain transparent and responsible.

Part of the value of public-private partnerships is that they are designed to move beyond orations toward actions, real and tangible ways to improve the condition of democracy everywhere. Similarly, that emphasis on action will be a driving force in the discussions at the Community of Democracies ministerial meeting, as well as the NGO forum. We must focus on a concrete agenda for strengthening democracy where it exists and for encouraging it where it does not yet exist. Therefore, we intend to produce a plan of action that will cement our responsibilities:

-- promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

-- advancing the rule of law;

-- insuring free and fair elections;

-- guaranteeing a free media; and

-- upholding accountable, transparent government.

The Seoul Plan of Action should also incorporate the fact that we bear these responsibilities not just for our own nations alone. We also owe a duty to our neighbors and fellow democracies to help them fully realize these promises of democratic development. Therefore, we must work as individual actors, regional partners, and global stewards of democracy.

Toward that end, an important objective of our discussions should be to highlight the particular importance of regional cooperation to advance democratic progress. A more robust region of democracies will make safer neighbors, better trade partners, and stronger allies. There are a number of means of regional cooperation which can be employed to reach this goal. Regional mechanisms for human rights reporting and democracy monitoring can help avert democratic crises. Bilateral and multilateral engagement can spur nations to better address democratic deficits that may exist. But perhaps the greatest potential for regional action to improve democracy lies in the development of regional instruments. Regional instruments can serve as a call to action for member states to build democratic institutions, adhere to democratic principles, and provide assistance to other member states where principles of democracy may be at risk. They can serve not simply to memorialize ideas but to motivate actions. Neighborly relations can be a means to strengthen a regional commitment to democracy.

A leading example of how a region can join forces to strengthen regional commitment to democracy is the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Adopted by the Organization of American States on September 11, 2001, the Charter embodies the region����s agreement upon a set of democratic values and provides mechanisms for the defense and advancement of those values. The Charter reinforces existing political commitments to democratic institutions while also putting forward mandates and activities to strengthen democratic systems and democratic culture in the Americas. It affirms that the people of the Americas have a right to democracy while their governments have a corresponding obligation to promote and defend it. Just as the Charter grew out of the 2000 Community of Democracies meeting in Warsaw, we hope that more examples of regional cooperation for democracy will come from our meeting in Seoul.

The African Union, in its early stages, has also expressed a commitment to democracy. We need to support this effort and share those lessons we have learned in this hemisphere with our CD partners in Africa. It is our hope that by encouraging our democratic partners from Africa, the African Union will continue on its present course and serve to strengthen and broaden Africa����s democratic development.

In addition to stressing the importance of regional action, our discussions in Seoul should pinpoint the need for democracies to take decisive action where threats to democracy exist. By preparing a slate of counteractive measures, the world����s democracies can go far toward averting democratic setbacks. From early warning systems to mediation to multilateral action, the countries in the Community of Democracies should consider the range of options that can be used to preserve and protect democratic institutions.

As we proceed in Seoul, our energies should also be focused on formulating real agendas for action in areas vital to democratic growth such as education, good governance, and fostering healthy civil societies. All of these areas are baseline necessities for effective democratic development. In particular, education is a fundamental element in a democratic society. To be full participants in democracy, people must be knowledgeable about their rights and duties as citizens. Moreover, democracies also bear responsibility to their people to adhere to standards of good governance. Corruption, lack of transparency, and a failure of citizen access to government are all failures which can erode support for democracy. Thus, it is vital that a nation be equipped with a robust civil society, fueled by a spirit of volunteerism, that can take an active role in governance.

The Community of Democracies is designed to catalyze a new way of thinking among the world����s democratic governments. This new way of thinking will orient governments not only by traditional factors like geography or ethnicity, but by a factor which is far more revealing -- a common commitment to democratic values. As we move beyond Seoul, we hope that the unity nurtured there will carry over into existing international and regional organizations. Though the Community of Democracies is not intended to act as a standing body, it is meant to form an informal caucus within existing international bodies that will facilitate actions to uphold democratic ideals.

President Ronald Reagan once said that "Democracy is not a fragile flower. Still, it needs cultivating." The Community of Democracies provides us with an opportunity to do precisely that -- to nourish budding democracies while tending to the further refinement of mature democratic systems. We eagerly anticipate this unique forum and the contributions it will make to democracy around the world.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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